West Berkshire

West Berkshire's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure and work life.

The population passed 150,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of West Berkshire increased by 6.5%, from about 144,000 to 154,000.

The addition of just over 9,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, West Berkshire was home to, on average, 1.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Housing in West Berkshire

The percentage of households that owner their home fell in West Berkshire, but at a slower rate than in nearby Reading.

In West Berkshire, the proportion of home ownership decreased from 74% in 2001 to 70% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Reading decreased from 66% to 55%.

Across the South East, the share of households that owner their home decreased from 73% to 67%.

Private renting in West Berkshire increased from 8.7% to 14%, while the rate of social housing remained close to 14%.

The rate of home ownership was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that that owner their home across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in West Berkshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 12% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.8% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in West Berkshire decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in West Berkshire, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of West Berkshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.5% to 3.2% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (86%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 75% in 2001. The percentage of West Berkshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in West Berkshire decreased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in West Berkshire, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in West Berkshire

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased here, but at a slower rate than across the South East.

In West Berkshire, the proportion of single people increased from 27% in 2001 to 29% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 29% to 32%.

Across England, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 30% to 35%.

The proportion of married people in West Berkshire fell from 56% to 54%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 10.0% to 11%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of West Berkshire residents that were unemployed increased from 1.7% to 2.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (59%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 61% in 2001. The percentage of West Berkshire residents that were self-employed increased from 10% to 11%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in West Berkshire increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in West Berkshire, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

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